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Word Order, Simple Present and Continuous

Tense, is a verb form, which tells the time (whether action or condition is done now, in the past or future). The verb itself simply changes based on the time, which is preceded.

Simple Present Tense

They, We, I, You + V1

She, He, It + V1 + s

For third person, notice that:

Seizan (japanese male name) = he

Christie = she

Oleg and Egor = they

I and Dima = we

You and Daniil = You (plural)

to buy

->

buys

to fix

->

fixes

to play

->

plays

to discuss

->

discusses

to fly

->

flies

to do

->

does

to study

->

studies

to go

->

goes

to use

->

uses

to help

->

helps

to change

->

changes

to speak

->

speaks

a) Used for daily activities (habits)

Pavel goes to school every day

Alexandr usually eats an egg for breakfast

b) Tells the general truth

A week has seven days

The sun rises in the east

subject

(they, we, i, you)

+

frequently, rarely, ever,

often, never, always,

sometimes, seldom

+

v1

(go, listen,

feel, stay)

subject

(he, she it)

+

frequently, rarely, ever,

often, never, always,

sometimes, seldom

+

v1

(goes, listens,

feels, stays)

Simple Continuous Tense

Subject + TO BE (is, am, are) + Verb-ing

He, she, it + is

I + am

They, We, You + are

a) Tells an action, which is done right now

Dmitry and Irina are studying Italian now (they)

b) Explains the temporary condition

She is reading now, but she will write soon

c) Used for future activity, which is really happened positively

I am writing again in a few weeks

To apprehend the purposes and the differences between simple present and simple continuous tense, here is served a passage, read the passage two or three times until you really understand:

From this part until the end of material, taken from the book L.G Alexander (p15-16)

~ Practice & Progress

Breakafst or Lunch?

It was Sunday. I never get up early on Sundays. I sometimes stay in bed until lunch time. Last Sunday I got up very late. I looked out of the window. It was dark outside. ‘What a day!’ I thought. “It’s raining again.” Just then, the telephone rang. It was my aunt Lucy, “I’ve just arrived by train,” she said. “I’m coming to see you.”

“But I’m still having breakfast,” I said.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“I’m having breakfast,” I repeated.

“Dear me,” she said. “Do you always get up so late? It’s one o’clock!”

Key Structures

Now, Often & Always

Now

Often and Always

These sentences are from the passage:

It’s raining

I never get up early on Sundays

I’m coming to see you

I sometimes stay in bed until lunch time

I’m still having breakfast

Do you always get up so late?

Here are some more sentences:

He is still sleeping

He rarely gets up before 10 o’clock

We are enjoying our lunch

We frequently have lunch at this restaurant

I’m reading in bed

Do you ever read in bed?

Special Difficulties

Instead of saying:

We can say:

It is a terrible day!

What a terrible day!

This is beautiful picture!

What a beautiful picture!

The word order in simple statements

A statement tells us about something. All the sentences in the passage are statements. Each of these statements contains one idea. Each statement tells us about one thing. A statement that tells us about one thing is a simple statement.

The order of the words in a statement is very important. Look at these two statements. they both contain the same words but they don’t mean the same thing:

The policeman arrested the thief.

The thief arrested the policeman.

A simple statement can have six parts, but it does not always have so many. Study the order of the words in the following columns. note that column 6 (When?) can be at the beginning or at the end of a statement.

6

1

2

3

4

5

6

When?

Who?

Which?

What?

Action

Who?

Which?

What?

How?

Where?

When?

Last week

I

went

To the theatre.

I

had

A very good seat.

They

Were talking

Loudly.

You will use the seven columns again for this exercise. There is a line under each word or group of words in the statements below. The words are not in the right order. Arrange them correctly in the seven columns. Look at this example:

Ilast yearto Russiawent.

The correct order is : I (who) went (action) to Russia (where) last year (when).

or Last year i went to Russia.

Exercise

1. Games – played – yesterday – in their room – the children – quietly.